Some hired ‘Say No to Protest’ demonstrators have expressed their discontent after being abandoned without food or payment following a pro-government rally in Abuja.
In a video that surfaced online, these supporters of President Bola Tinubu voiced their grievances, stating they were left stranded after being used to counter protests against government policies.
One woman lamented, “Tinubu said they should call us to give us support and that he doesn’t want protest. He said he would give us support. We are here very early in the morning, no food, no water, the drivers were left stranded without being paid.” She further criticized the government, declaring, “Nigeria has no president. We don’t have a leader.”
When asked if they would participate in the upcoming nationwide protests scheduled to start on August 1, the women affirmed their intention to join, saying, “Yes, we will join the protest.”
The protesters, who claimed to represent Nigeria’s 36 states, gathered at Eagles Square on Monday, brandishing placards that read ‘Say No To Protest’ in support of the government’s stance against the #EndBadGovernance movement, which aims to address the escalating hardships faced by Nigerians.
In response to the planned protests, President Tinubu has taken steps to alleviate public discontent, including approving shipments of rice to various states and signing a minimum wage bill of N70,000 into law. However, spokespersons for Tinubu’s administration, Bayo Onanuga and Ajuri Ngelale, did not respond to inquiries regarding the allegations made by the hired demonstrators.
